<p>In many other schools, students in your position have a decent chemistry teacher.</p>
<p>Colleges see "Honors Chemistry: A". They don't see any description of the teacher's teaching capability, unless you use valuable "Additional Info" space to tell them.</p>
<p>If you don't even have "Honors Chemistry" on your transcript, then there's no way you can match up to the students' norm in most other schools. (The schools I'm talking about can be exactly like your school in every way, minus the chemistry teacher). You don't really have a choice but to take it, especially if you're going into bio/chemical engineering.</p>
<p>Once you're in the class, make absolutely sure you selfstudy and get that 5 on the AP exam. Some schools don't take 4's, and if you fall to your teacher's bad teaching skills, NONE of the schools on your list take 3's. (It'd hurt you a lot).</p>
<p>Skipping chem leaves a big hole in your curriculum esp you are going for top schools as a science major. Like the other poster said, self-study the subject if the teacher is that bad.</p>
<p>Like what you said about tenured teachers, spideygirl. I have yet to meet a tenured teacher without an attitude.</p>
<p>What if you took Chemistry in your Senior year though? What if you're schedule is packed for Junior year because you like those classes better? Taking it senior year (they still see 1st semester grades right?) won't hurt as much as not taking it at all right?</p>
<p>I need to focus on my ecs, SATs, APs, and other courses. Taking it Senior year is alright right? (I'll still get the chem before college) Would they assume I have good chem levels or will do good in it if I got As in AP Physics and a 5 on the exam? I'm also taking AP bio and planning to get 800 and 5.</p>